Harness race starting gate



Oct. 17, 1 950 I w, ASHTON 2,526,060

HARNESS RACE STARTING GATE Filed Aug. 20, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zia/ ira zzvmvrm ArroQ/vsv.

Oct. 17, 1950 w, ASHTON 2,526,060

HARNESS RACE STARTING GATE Filed Aug. 20, 1946 S Sheets-Sheet 2 A rraQ/vEY.

Oct. 17, 1950 W. A. ASHTON HARNESS RACE STARTING GATE Filed Aug. 20. 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 OI 59 \l 67 W Wflfiu I N VEN TOR.

BY WW ATTORNEY- Oct. 17, 1950 w. A. ASHTON HARNESS RACE STARTING GATE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 20. 1946 INVENTOR.

A TTOR/VEY.

Oct. 17, 1950 w. A. ASHTON 2,526,060

HARNESS RACE STARTING GATE Filed Aug. 20, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 zawzaawz/wu IN V EN TOR.

QTTOENEV Patented Oct. 17,1950

HARNESS RACE STARTING GATE Willard A. Ashton, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Western Harness Racing Association, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California .ApplicationAugust 20, 1946, Serial .No. 691,828 4 Claims. (01. 119- 155) This invention pertains to a method of starting or initiating harness races whereby the difficulty heretofore encountered in obtaining a reasonably satisfactory alignment of the entries.

as the starting line is crossed, is eliminated. The invention is also directed to an improved type of starting gate particularly adapted for use in harness racing.

Heretofore harness racing has not met with a great deal of popular interest because of the many false startsinvolved and the apparent impossibility of getting the various entries into a semblance of alignment at the start of a race. Harness racing distinguishes from most forms of horse racing in that the entries mill about and get into their pace before heading down the track toward an imaginary startin line, so that the entries are moving rapidly at the time they cross the starting line. The drivers often attempt to place themselves in a more advantageous position while making their run for the starting line and ragged, uneven starts which require recall of the field are prone to occur, thereby delayin the race and causing the audience to lose interest.

Generally stated, the method of the present invention contemplates positioning a starting gate including a barrier across the track at a point spaced from a fixed starting line and behind such starting line and then driving the device r gate along the track toward the starting line at a controllable speed so that the various entries are prevented from passing the moving barrier. As a result, all of the entries are given an opportunity of moving in close proximity with the movin barrier and in aligning them- 'exteliorly of the guard rails or fences defining the borders of the race track. Theseendframes are connected by means of an overhead beam which carries one or more gates or barriers capable of moving from a substantially vertical K and provide a mobile starting gate.

position transverse to the track to a virtually 2 I rier may be yieldingly held in the substantially vertical position so that a horse catching up with the moving barrier and pressing thereagainst will encounter a resilient or yielding resistance and impart a partially pivotal movement to the gate without tripping the mechanism and causing the gate to automatically openand fully pivot upwardly. If, however, the horse happens to be a runaway and presses against the gate with considerable force so as to cause. the gate to pivotally move beyond a predetermined limit, the gate will be tripped and fully opened so as to prevent injury to the horse.

Moreover, since thoroughbreds are extremely sensitive and in many instances readily frightened, means have been provided whereby the overhead beam will cast but a light, indistinct or diffused shadow, and not a dense shadow which may cause the horse to deemthe shadow an obstacle, attempt to jump thereover, and thereby break its pace.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to disclose and provide methods of starting harness races which will be free from the difficulties encountered heretofore.

An object of the invention is to disclose. and provide a method of starting harness races whereby the various entries may move toward a moving gate and a stationary starting line and align themselves properly before the race is actually initiated. I I

.It is an object of the invention to disclose A further object of the invention is to disclose and provide a novel construction and arrangement of elements whereby a starting gate provided with a barrier maybe co-ntrollably driven along a'race track.

A still further object of the invention isto disclose and provide. an improved means and mechanism whereby harness races may be ef- .fectively started Without causing accidental'i'njury to any of the. participating entries.

These and various other objects ,of the 'invention will become apparent to those skilled in .the art from the following description of ex- .emplary forms of devices embraced hereby. In order to facilitate understanding, reference will be had to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is .a rear elevation of a starting'gat'e embodying the present invention.

Fig. .2 is a view of the left .end of the gate illustrated in Fig. l. I a

.Fig. .3 is an elevational view of the rightlend' of the device shown in Fig. l.

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical sections taken approximately along the plane IVIV of Fig. 1 showing the barrier-actuating mechanism in two positions.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the barrier actuating mechanism showing the position assumed by the actuating mechanism when the barrier is fully raised.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary View partly in section of the gate release mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the actuating piston and related parts.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective View of the light diffusing means.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternate screen construction.

Fig. 11 is a schematic representation of an alternate type of gate-actuating mechanism and controls therefor.

The relationship of the device of this invention to a race track is well illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the track itself is indicated at I with side rails 2 and 3 forming the inner and outer boundaries of the track. Paralleling the rails 2 and 3 and exteriorly thereof, narrow runways are provided such as, for example, the runways or channels 4 and 5. These runways extend rearwardly from the region of a starting line and in operation the entire device is placed upon the runways 4 and 5 at a point to the rear of the starting line so that in its movement it will progress in advance of the horses toward the starting line.

The entire device, hereafter called the starting gate, is composed in essence of a pair of end frames generally indicated at 6 and I having their upper ends connected by means of a trussed beam generally indicated at 8. It will be noted, therefore, that the beam 8 extends transversely of the race track and is positioned a considerable distance above the level of the track.

The end frames 6 and I are best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As there shown, each of the end frames may comprise a vertical, broadbased, A-shaped framework. In the end frame shown in Fig. 2 a base member ID is provided with the upwardly and inwardly inclined members II and I2 suitably connected at the top and an intermediate position as by an element l3. Obviously the vertical elements H and [2 may be duplicated and any suitable rigid and preferably lightweight structure may be employed.

Each end frame is provided with aligned wheels adapted to run along a runway. For example, the horizontally disposed member it] may have front and rear wheels [4 and I5 suitably mounted thereon, whereas the end frame I is provided with the front and rear wheels I4 and I5.

The beam 8 which connects the upper ends of the frames 6 and 1 is preferably a trussed, openwork beam. As shown in the drawings, and particularly in Fig. 6, such beam may be composed of a plurality of parallel, tubular members l8, I9, 20, and 2| arranged in pairs, the members I 8 and I9 being connected by horizontal elements 22, whereas the upper members and 2| are connected by horizontally disposed elements 23. The upper and lower members 20 and I8 may be interconnected by zig-zag truss elements such as 24; and upper and lower elements 2| and [9 may be connected by similar zig-zag elements 25. In addition, diagonal braces such as 26 and 21 may be employed in order to impart rigidity to the beam, since the span thereof may vary with the width of the race track and may range from ninety to one hundred and twenty feet or more.

One of the end frames, such as the end frame 6, may carry a power means such as the motor 33, and means are provided for transmitting power from the motor to one of the wheels on each of the frames for propelling the entire gate along the runways 4 and 5. In the example given, the drive shaft of the motor 33 leads to a gear box 3| and from a jack shaft of such gear box power is transmitted as by means of a chain 32 to'a sprocket 33 mounted upon a sectional shaft carried by the beam 8, the shaft being indicated at 34. The shaft is mounted in suitable bearings 35 and is periodicalh provided with adjustable flexible couplings as at 35 so that the shaft may be readily raised, kept in operating alignment. The couplings 36 may be of any conventional type having means for raising or lowering the coupling with respect to its support. In the present instance, the coupling 35 is preferably of the flexible type because of the length of the shaft 34. The provision of such coupling provides means for readily aligning the shaft in case of sagging or other distortion of the relatively long beam 3. The other end of the shaft 34 may transmit power through a sprocket 37 and chain 38 to a countershaft and then by means of chain 39 to a suitable driving sprocket 43 mounted upon the shaft of wheel 15'. A similar chain fill may extend from the cross shaft 34 and sprocket carried thereby to a countershaft mounted upon the frame 5 so that power may be transmitted from such countershaft as by chain 52 to the shaft upon which the wheel [5 is mounted. By the arrangement thus shown it is evident that the Wheels 15 and I5 will be driven in the same direction and at the same speed, thereby causing the entire gate to travel with the beam transverse to the track.

The frame 6 may carry a suitable structure having the floor 13 to accommodate an operator, starter, and other ofiicials, if desired. Various controls 44 may be mounted in a suitable location on such platform 4'3 so that the operator may control the motor 33 from such vantage point and start, stop and change the speed of the entire gate at will.

The starting'gate may carry one or more barriers. In actual practice it has been found desiraIb'le to carry a plurality of adjoining barriers and although means are provided for actuating all of the barriers simultaneously, the operation, repair and use of the starting gate is enhanced by the provision of a plurality of barriers.

By referring to Fig. l a barrier is indicated at 55, a part of another at 5|, and still another barrier at 52. These barriers are lightweight, foraminous elements pivotally connected to the beam for movement from a virtually vertical plane transverse to the track to a virtually horizontal plane above the track. Each barrier may be of .a width correlated to the Width of a sulky or other vehicle being drawn by the horse, and for the purpose of identifying lanes or barriers, a sign or other identifying signal may be carried immediately above each barrier, as for example at 52'.

Each barrier may be pivotally connected to the rear and lower transverse member 18 as by means of end arms 53 and 54, such end arms -rnents 55. I also connected to the" cross piece '55 and probeing connected f by one or mere tubulai el'e- An intermediate bracket or arm 56 vided with a side arm 51 may also be pivoted to the transverse member [8.

The rest of the barrier may be composed. of a plurality of downwardly extending, spaced, tubb-ular members 58 connected by transverse elements such as 59, 60 and 61. The lower ends of the tubular elements may be curvediorwardly as best indicated at 62 in Fig. 3. v

Actuating means are carried by the beam 8 and connected to each of the barriers for moving the barriers from their initial, virtually vertical position into a horizontal position. Various means may be employed. The specific form of means illustrated in Figs; 4- to 8 inclusive comprises a spring means capable of being preloaded for instantaneous and simultaneous release. In

these figures Fig. 4 shows the arrangement of elements when the barrier 50 is in a preloaded, vertical position; and Fig. 5 illustrates a position capable of being assumed by the barrier under the influence of mechanical pressure applied to the lower portion of the barrier, as for example by an over anxious horse and rider. Fig. 6 illustrates the position of the gate in a fully open, virtually horizontal position.

Each of the barriers may be provided with a separate actuating means, such various actuating means being arranged, however, for simultaneous operation at the will" of the starter. In

the illustrated form of device, a cylinder t i'is pivotally connected by its upper end to the upper, transverse element 2'0 of the beam 8' and slidably mounted in such cylinder is a piston 65 carried by the upper end of a rod 66, the lower end of the rod being pivotally connected as at 61 to the bracket orarm 51' attached to the bar'- rier. withdrawn into the cylinderwhen the barrier is. in fully opened position, as indicated in Fig.6. One form of construction of the piston 65 is shown in greater detail in Fig. 8 but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to i the precise form of piston there shown.

An actuating piston 68 isalso contained within the cylinder 64, this actuating piston being carried by the upper end. of. a tube, 10 shorterin length than the rod. 66. The end of. the tube Til may be provided witha flange against which a spring 'i! may. press, the opposite end of? the spring bearing against the arm 51 of the barrier. Normally, therefore,v the spring ll urges the "piston 68 againstthe piston 65 and relative movement may take place between the tube it and the rod66. M a

The cylindertd: contains a heavy spring '22 bearing against the lower side of the piston {58 and normally adapted to raise. the piston 68 (and piston 65) to the upper part of. the cylinder 6d, asindicated in Fig. 6, soas to open thebarrier. Releasable means are provided for. preloading the spring 12 and the barrier and for holding the barrier 50. in; the-vertical position indicated in Fig. 4. The latching means illustrated comprises a port or opening. 74 formed in the tubular member 'HLand capable of receiving a roller, rod, dog, or other latching device' 15 carried by a bell cranklever l fi pivotallycon- "nected as at 1? tothe bottom ofthe cylindertfl;

When the barrier 50 is in its lower, virtually ver tical position and the two pistons 65- andv 68- are at their lowermost point of. travel within the cylinder 64, an area of reduced cross section 66" The piston 65may be virtually completely the current is cut off the bell crank lever ES axis 77 is not in longitudinal alignment with pivots upon the point 11, and since the pivotal the roller E5 when suchroller is seated in the port M, the thrust of the spring 12 against piston 68 is translated by the tube H1 into an outward displacement of the roller 15, causing the latching device to be released and permitting the rapid pivotal movement into horizontal position. V

By employing a round latch bar 15, the latch is an unstable one, readily displaced by the oncenter thrust on the tube It, causing instantaneous release of the actuating means when current supply to electromagnet i9 is discontinued by the starter by movement of a switch (not shown) but preferably located in the end frame 6.

It is to be noted that means have been provided whereby pivotal movement of the barrier by an externally applied force to beyond a predetermined point automatically renders the actuating means operative. If, for example, a horse bears against the barrier while the gate is moving and the barrier is down, the horse will encounter a yielding resistance due to spring. H and piston will move upwardly (as in Fig 5*). An adjustable bleed port 56" is provided for the regulated escape of air from the upper end of cylinder es. The bleed port t l may be provided with a needle valve for adjusting the escape of the air from the upper cylinder 64* and thereby regulate the cushioning effect of the air within the cylinder 64 above the piston 65. Upward movement of piston 65 is due to relative movement of rod 66 within tube 70- and the amount of such permissive movement is limited i by the length of the reduced section 66. When the barrier has been pivotally moved to the limit established by 66" and the externally applied force continues, the lower shoulder of the reduced section 66' forces the roller 15 out and the actuating spring '52 immediately raises the barrier. Such raising of the barrier, to prevent injury to the horse, is independent of the control means operated by the starter. In actual practice, the occurrence of the actsjust recited would cause the starter to raise all gates, announce that there is No Start over public ad dress means 89 carried by the gate (Fig. 1) and energize red stop lights 8! to make certain that for diffusing light.

,may be carried by the beamas. at 82 (Fig. 2) and may comprise a tiltable, movable or shift'able' the drivers regroup themselves for another start. The public. address'systemand speaker 8+2! permits thefstarte'r to talkto the drivers 'atall times.

Inlorder to prevent the overhead beam 8 from casting a sharp shadow which a horsema'y mistake for an obstacle, means have been provided One form, of such means frame capable of extending beyond the beam "andcarryinglight diffracting or diffusing memlbers,

offone such type of frame carrying a plurality of .Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective View longitudinally extending, spaced, translucent and transparent strips 83, 84', respectively pro.- vided (in this example) with concave, upper sure faces. Sunlight is thus diffused upon the track, inhibiting the formation of a dense, sharp-edged shadow which might startle a horse.

The entire frame 82 may be supported by lever arms 85 provided with pivots 86, which may be suitably connected to any convenient portion of the beam 8.

In an alternate form the frame 82 may carry a screen 8? (Fig. 10) of relatively large mesh, covered with a translucent material such as a plastic of cellulosic derivative into which the screen has been dipped. Sheets 88 and 89 effectively refract and diffuse the light.

It is not necessary that the barrier be pivoted to a member of the beam; it may be inovably attached to a torque tube 9?]. Fig. 11 illustrates a barrier 50 attached to a torque tube 9%] provided with a pinion gear 9| controllably actuated by rack 92 and piston 93 of an air cylinder 94. Compressed air from a manifold 95 is supplied to both ends of the cylinder as by line 96 and pressure regulating valve 91, and by line 98, pressure regulating valve 99 and three-way valve 100 having an exhaust outlet lfil. Valves 9| and 99 may be preset so that normally piston 93 is in the position shown and the barrier is down. Valve I09 may be electrically operated as by relay !92 from switch I03 located in the starters position in the end frame. The starter may, therefore, turn valve I88 so as to connect one end of the cylinder 94 with exhaust liil, thereby permitting pressure supplied through line 925 to rapidly raise the barrier.

In the event a horse bears against the barrier, he will encounter the resilient differential pressure between opposing sides of piston 93, and if he causes more than a motion permitted by trip E04, the circuit to relay I82 is closed and the barrier will open.

It is to be understood that where reference is made to a barrier pivotally connected to an overhead beam, the construction may include a barrier actually connected to an element of the beam or to a torque tube, shaft, hinge pin, or trunnion carried by the beam. Pneumatic or hydraulic actuating means may be used instead of spring actuated means. The beam itself may be constructed in various Ways, and although a hollow, openwork type of beam is preferred, a tubular or elliptical beam may be used. Two or more wheels may be mounted on each end frame, and power may be applied to one or more of the wheels. Those skilled in the art, having read the description given herein and being thereby informed as to objects to be attained, will be able to intelligently exercise their knowledge in adapting the present invention and utilizing its teachings. Not all of the various means herein described need be employed simultaneously andv various combinations may be used. Certain elements of this invention may be adapted to devices other than starting gates for harness racing. All changes, modifications and adaptations coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

v 1. In combination with a race track having a guard rail defining the track: a narrow runway externally of each guard rail and extending rearwardly from the region of a starting line; a starting gate comprising a pair of vertical, broad-based end frames, each end frame being provided with wheels adapted to run along a runway; a hollow trussed beam connecting the upper ends of the end frames to extend transversely above the track; a lightweight, foraminous barrier pivotally connected to the beam for movement from a virtually vertical plane transverse to the track to a virtually horizontal plane above the track; an arm carried by the barrier; actuating means carried by the beam and connected to the arm for moving the barrier from vertical into horizontal position, comprising a cylinder having one end pivotally connected to the beam, a piston movable in the cylinder and provided with a rod extending from the cylinder, the end of the rod being pivotally connected to the arm, an actuating piston within the cylinder, a tube slidably encircling the rod and attached to said actuating piston, a spring yieldably urging said pistons together, a spring within the cylinder urging the actuating piston upwardly into the cylinder, and a latch cooperating with the tube for holding the actuating piston and spring in loaded position when said barrier is substantially vertical; and the last said means controllable from a point in one of the end frames for releasing the latch.

2. A movable gate for starting harness races, comprising: a pair of vertical broad-based end frames, each end frame being provided with wheels adapted to run along a runway; a hollow trussed beam connecting the upper ends of the end frames to extend transversely above a race track; a lightweight, foraminous barrier pivotally connected to the beam for movement from a virtually vertical plane transverse to the track to a virtually horizontal plane above the track; an arm carried by the barrier; actuating means carried by the beam and connected to the arm for moving the barrier from vertical into horizontal position comprising a cylinder having one end pivotally connected to the beam, a piston movable in the cylinder and provided with a rod extending from the cylinder, the end of the rod being pivotally connected to the arm, an actuating piston Within the cylinder, a tube slidably encircling the rod and attached to said actuating piston, a spring yieldably urging said pistons together, a spring within the cylinder urging the actuating piston upwardly into the cylinder, a latch cooperating with the tube for holding the actuating piston and the last said spring in loaded position when said barrier is substantially vertical; and means for releasing the latch.

3. A movable gate for starting harness races, comprising: a pair of vertical broad-based end frames, each end frame being provided with wheels adapted to' run along a runway; a hollow trussed beam connecting the'upper ends of the end frames to extend transversely above a race track; a lightweight, foraminous barrier pivotally connected to the beam for movement from a virtually vertical plane transverse to the track to a virtually horizontal plane above the track; an arm carried by the barrier; actuating means carried by the beam and connected to the arm for moving the barrier from vertical into horizontal position comprising a cylinder having one end pivotally connected to the beam, a piston movable in the cylinder and provided with a rod extending from the cylinder, the end of the rod being pivotally connected to the arm, an actuating piston within the cylinder, a tube slidably encircling the rod and attached to said actuating piston, a spring yieldably urging said pistons together, a spring within the cylinder urging the actuating piston upwardly into the cylinder, a latch cooperating with the tube for holding the actuating piston and the last said spring in loaded position when said barrier is substantially -vertical; means for releasing the latch; and

means carried by the rod for independently releasing the latch upon limited predetermined movement of the rod with respect to the tube.

4. In a starting gate for animal races including. a pair of vertically extending end frames, on overhead beam carried by said end frames and I slidably mounted within the cylinder below said first piston and having a central aperture surrounding said rod; a tube carried by said second piston, said tube extending coaxially of said rod and being slidable relative thereto; an actuating spring within said cylinder urging said sec- 0nd piston upwardly; a latch spring biasing said tube upwardly and said arm downwardly; a releasable latch preventing upward movement of said tube; and means for releasing said latch when said arm is moved upwardly a predetermined distance against the force of said latch spring.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 596,023 Barrett Dec. 21, 1897 647,166 Stedeker Apr. 10, 1900 705,043 Crowley July 22, 1902 1,542,767 Hassett June 16, 1925 2,319,420 Macksou'd- May 18, 1943 2,365,314 Whann Dec. 19, 1944 'FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 399,912 Great Britain Oct. 19, 1

I BD A. ASI-ITO'N: 

